My Fiancé Spent My Millions on His Mistress, So I Ruined Him

Julian Reed was hailed as a once-in-a-generation genius. At eighteen, he made a solemn vow: "I will not marry until I achieve a breakthrough in my research!" I waited for him for five long years. I watched him climb to the peak of success three times, only to fall back down. The first time, his lab notebooks were mysteriously contaminated. The second time, when he collapsed from exhaustion, he "accidentally" knocked over a critical petri dish. The third time, his imported lab equipment suffered a series of bizarre technical glitches. I couldn't bear to see his hard work go to waste. I used all the connections and the inheritance my mother left me to purchase brand-new equipment for him. But right before the delivery, I overheard his assistant, Chloe Bennett, crying in his office. "Julian, you succeeded five years ago!" "It's all because of me... Maybe we should just break up!" Julian’s voice was incredibly gentle as he comforted her: "The Vance family has been so generous to me. Marrying Harper is my duty. I can't reject her, so I can only delay it." "But my heart has always belonged to you." I stood outside the door, feeling like I had been plunged into an ice bath. A month later, the research breakthrough that was supposed to make Julian famous was published by his fiercest rival instead. On the dedication page of the paper, there was only one line: "I dedicate this achievement to my investor, Ms. Harper Vance." I stood in the hallway, completely numb. Julian and Chloe’s conversation replayed in my head like a broken record. The weight of it was suffocating. All I wanted was to be alone and clear my head. Just as I turned to leave, the lab door at the end of the hall clicked open. Julian stepped out, followed by Chloe, whose eyes were red and puffy. Looking exhausted, Julian looked up and saw me. He let out a deep sigh. "Harper, I'm so sorry. The experiment failed again. Because of the faulty equipment, the data got completely corrupted. We have to start from scratch." "Our wedding... I'm afraid we have to postpone it again. I'm so sorry." I listened in silence. I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms, but I couldn't feel the pain. Suppressing the lump in my throat, I gave a hollow response: "Okay, I get it." With that, I slipped my phone into my pocket and turned to walk away. "Harper, wait!" Julian’s voice called out behind me. He grabbed my hand, comforting me with his usual warmth. "Harper, I know you're disappointed. I am too." "But for you, I won't give up." "Those machines are definitely useless now. Could you talk to your father about releasing the next phase of funding from Vance Enterprises? Even though we failed this time, our direction is definitely right. I'm confident that next time..." The harsh fluorescent lights of the hallway shone down, reflecting the blatant calculation in Julian’s eyes. In that instant, my head cleared. To Julian, I, Harper Vance, had never been his beloved fiancée. I was just a human ATM that spit out cash whenever he pleased. Seeing my silence, Chloe chimed in, her voice dripping with sweet concern. "She's right, Harper. Julian has been working overnight for days just so he can marry you. Nobody expected this to happen. You can't back out at the finish line!" I looked down, intending to brush Chloe's hand off my sleeve. But my eyes froze on her wrist. A diamond-encrusted Cartier Love bracelet? It was the latest model, and it cost a fortune. How could Chloe, a mere research assistant, afford something like that? The truth hit me instantly—it was paid for with my family's money. I almost wanted to laugh. Rage flared up inside me, but I forced it down. I looked slowly at the two hypocrites in front of me. Simply throwing a tantrum and tearing them apart right now would be too easy on them. Oh, you want to put on a show? Fine. I'll play along. I pretended to be swayed, offering a soft smile. "I know Julian is doing all of this for me." "Since you both are so confident, I’ll go home and speak to my father. Don't worry. This time, the funding will only be more, not less." Relief and excitement flashed across their faces, barely concealed. Before I left, Julian wrapped his coat around my shoulders, acting like the perfect, caring partner. "Drive safe." "I’ll come over later and cook your favorite dinner." I smiled, nodded, and got into my car. The moment the research institute faded in my rearview mirror, the smile vanished from my face. I pulled over and looked at the thick stack of funding and equipment applications sitting on the passenger seat. It was submitted by a very young researcher named Ethan Cross. I had read his profile. He was even more talented than Julian, if not a borderline prodigy. His only problem was a lack of funding and resources. Without a second thought, I grabbed the document, dialed the number on the contact page, and hit call. "Hello?" Hearing the steady, deep voice on the other end, I cut straight to the chase. "This is Harper Vance. Your funding will be approved within two hours, and the equipment will be delivered to your lab by 3:00 PM today." "I want to see results in a month." There was a brief silence. Then, the man replied, his voice trembling with suppressed excitement. "Thank you, Ms. Vance. I won't let you down!" Second ChapterKnock, knock. My assistant walked into my office, placed a file on my desk, and spoke with a grim expression. "Ms. Vance, as you requested, we looked into Julian's research funds over the past few years. The allocation of the money... is highly suspicious." "We could only trace a portion of it without raising alarms, but the discrepancies are massive." I flipped through the falsified expense reports, the coldness in my chest hardening. "I see. I'll handle it." The assistant hesitated, then added: "Also, we checked with the Cartier boutique. The buyer of Chloe Bennett's bracelet was indeed Julian. He used the secondary card you gave him, and the transaction was logged under 'laboratory supplies.'" With a sharp snap, I shut the folder. The very last shred of affection I had for Julian vanished. I am Harper Vance, the sole heir to Vance Enterprises. I am not some pathetic, lovesick heroine who cries in a corner when she gets betrayed. If you dare to con me, you will pay. I let out a cold laugh. "Contact the legal department. Compile everything we have so far. We are preparing a lawsuit." My phone buzzed on the desk. I dismissed my assistant and unlocked the screen. It was a text from Julian. A few perfectly staged photos of home-cooked gourmet food popped up. “You’ve had a long day, babe. Make sure to come home early for dinner.” “By the way, I noticed the extra funding hasn't cleared yet. Are you too busy with work? It’s fine, if the paperwork is too annoying, I can go to the finance department myself tomorrow.” I scoffed, grabbed my car keys, and walked out. As expected, the only thing Julian actually cared about was my money. I unlocked the door to the luxury penthouse I had bought for Julian. In the living room, Julian’s mother was sitting in the center of the sofa, with Julian and Chloe sitting close on either side. They were laughing and talking, looking like a perfect, happy family. What caught my eye was how Julian’s mother was gently patting Chloe’s stomach, a warm, maternal smile on her face. I raised an eyebrow. The pieces fell into place. I cleared my throat loudly. The "family" froze and finally noticed me standing in the entryway. Chloe gave me an awkward smile. "Oh, Harper! You're back?" "The cafeteria food at the lab was so bad today, so I shamelessly came over to Julian's place for dinner. You don't mind, do you?" I stared at her, smiling sweetly. "Actually, I do." Chloe's smile stiffened. She clearly didn't expect that response. I frowned, looking at her with cold impatience. "What? Did I stutter?" "I said, I. Do. Mind." Chloe's eyes instantly welled up with tears. Julian quickly stood up, trying to play peacemaker, and reached for my arm. "Harper, what’s wrong with you?" "Did something go wrong at work today? Chloe just came over for a casual dinner. It's not a big deal." I scoffed, not wanting to waste another breath. I turned around to walk out. Julian panicked. He spun around and barked at Chloe, "Didn't you hear Harper? Why are you still standing there? Leave!" Chloe stared at Julian in sheer disbelief. Then, covering her face, she sobbed and ran past me out the door. I felt a small sense of satisfaction. I walked over and took my seat at the head of the dining table. Julian’s mother was visibly displeased by my behavior. She said coldly, "Harper, you really need to work on your temper. Chloe is Julian’s assistant. No matter what, you shouldn't have embarrassed Julian like that!" I picked up a fork, tasted a bit of the food, and then looked up at her with an indifferent smile. "Oh, sorry, Mrs. Reed. I'm just in a terrible mood today." "That useless nephew of yours, Todd, has been causing a mess at Vance Enterprises using my name. My managers are begging me to fire him, and it's putting me in a really tight spot." Her face changed instantly. Remembering something, she quickly forced a fake, pleasant smile and softened her tone. "Well, actually, Chloe was being quite rude. Why would she crash a family dinner anyway!" "Harper, dear, don't stress yourself out. I know you've been working hard, so I made some chicken soup specially for you. Let me get you a bowl!" Julian sat next to me, piling food onto my plate. "Harper, what's going on? Is your father... holding up the new funding?" I let out a heavy, calculated sigh. Putting down my fork, I said hesitantly: "It's worse than that. My father said it’s been five years, and you still haven't produced any results." "He wants me to go through with an arranged marriage with another family. If that happens, not only will our wedding be off, but all funding to your lab will be permanently cut!" Julian jumped up from his chair. "What? No way!" Seeing his panic, I added more fuel to the fire. "Yeah. And my father also said he's going to redirect all your equipment and funds to a researcher named Ethan Cross." "Apparently, Ethan promised that if he gets the backing, he’ll deliver results within three months." Julian definitely knew who Ethan Cross was. His reaction was incredibly hostile—like a cat getting its tail stepped on. "No! You can't give it to him!" "Ethan is just full of hot air! Don't believe a word he says!" Seeing how terrified Julian was, I knew Ethan was the real deal. Perfect. I'd increase Ethan's funding by another thirty million dollars when I got back. Panic-stricken, Julian dropped to one knee and grabbed my hand. "Harper, trust me!" "Ask your father to give me one more chance. One year—no, six months! I swear I'll have the results!" I stood up, acting thrilled. "Really? Then I’ll go tell my father right away so we can start planning the wedding!" I walked out, but I didn't go far. Sure enough, seconds later, Julian’s irritated voice echoed through the door. He was on the phone with Chloe. "Stop crying!" "I told you, I can't delay this anymore. I have to marry Harper! And tomorrow, you are going to get that abortion!" Third ChapterHis irritated tone now was a stark contrast to how he had coddled her this morning. "If she finds out and cuts off the Vance family's money, how am I supposed to finish my research? Break up with her? If I do that, are we both going to starve on the streets?" With a sharp click, Julian hung up the phone. I smiled, thoroughly satisfied, and walked away. See? There is no such thing as true love between hypocrites. Throw them a bone, and they'll rip each other apart. The next morning, I received great news from Ethan Cross. “Ms. Vance, the experimental data perfectly aligns with our theories. We estimate the breakthrough will be officially ready by next week.” I checked the timestamp on my Snapchat—4:30 AM. I immediately approved another ten million dollars for his lab. Hard work deserved to be rewarded. Meanwhile, Julian was losing his mind. For five years, he had slacked off, fabricating data and delaying his projects just to avoid marriage. Now that he actually had to work, his brain was too rusty to function. Listening to my assistant’s report on Julian's miserable state, I thought: Karma is a bitch. Suddenly, my eyes caught a familiar figure sitting on a bench in the hospital lobby. Her shoulders were shaking as she wept quietly. "I found her. I'm hanging up," I told my assistant and walked over. Stopping right in front of her, I handed her a tissue. "Is he really too busy to even accompany you to this kind of procedure?" Chloe froze. She stood up abruptly, her already pale face turning paper-white. Her lips trembled. "You... you..." She couldn't even form a coherent sentence. I calmly sat down in the empty seat next to her and gestured for her to sit. "Sit. You just had surgery, your body is weak." "I know everything you and Julian did. Don't worry. If I wanted to ruin you, we wouldn't be meeting in a hospital. It would be in a courtroom." "Embezzlement of corporate funds, especially in such massive amounts, carries a sentence of over seven years to life in prison." Chloe clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. She whispered nervously, "Then why are you here today... to make me leave Julian?" I turned my gaze away, not answering her directly. Instead, I stared into the distance and spoke casually, as if talking about the weather. "You and Julian both came from that impoverished mountain town, right?" "A place that deeply favors boys over girls. It couldn't have been easy for you to make it out." "I understand your ambition to climb higher. But I will never condone the methods you used." Chloe sobbed harder, trembling as she apologized. "Ms. Vance, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have..." I raised a hand, cutting off her meaningless apology. A man who could be stolen was never worth keeping anyway. "I'm giving you two options. First, I have my lawyers sue both you and Julian immediately." "Second, you compile a detailed ledger of where Julian spent every single cent of my investment money over the years. If you do, I'll consider it cooperation and leave your name out of the lawsuit." "Choose." Fourth ChapterChloe stopped crying, her voice soft but firm. "Thank you, Ms. Vance. I will organize everything and hand it over to you." As she spoke, she stood up and bowed deeply. I raised my hand to stop her. "No rush. Focus on recovering first." "Just get it to me in two weeks." I opened the thermos I had been holding. The hot soup inside was steaming. I handed it to her. Chloe took it, her mouth opening and closing as if she had a thousand things to say but couldn't find the words. "When times are tough, many women fall into the trap of thinking they need to rely on a man. They think love and marriage are an escape, but it’s actually a dead end. Even your own parents can't guarantee your future." "What makes you think a strange man would?" Leaving her with those words, I turned and walked away. The very next day, Chloe handed in her resignation to Julian. She kept her mouth shut, using her "recovery" as an excuse to clear her head out of town. Julian couldn't get any answers out of her. Perhaps stressed by his lack of progress in the lab, he decided to redirect his anger at me. Bang! My office door was slammed open, and Julian stormed in, livid. "Harper! Why did you force Chloe to quit?!" I put down my files, met his furious glare, and frowned. "Chloe submitted her resignation herself. Your assistant left, and you’re blaming me?" "She resigned? Ha! Who knows what kind of dirty tricks you played behind my back!" Clack! I slammed my pen onto the desk, the sharp sound echoing in the room. "Julian Reed. Is that how you speak to me?" "Why shouldn't I?" he yelled, letting out weeks of pent-up rage. "You promised the extra funding, but you've been delaying it over and over. Now I'm broke, and I have to beg the institute directors for crumbs!" "And you fired my mother's nephew without saying a word! Where is my respect?!" "Harper, do you really think I can't live without you?" I stared at him, watching him throw a tantrum like a clown. It was utterly pathetic. This is what happens when you treat someone too well for too long. They start taking your grace for granted. I stopped holding back and decided to stab him right where it hurt. "Can you?" "Julian, who do you think you are without me? There are over 300 million people in this country, and new 'geniuses' pop up every single day. But how many billionaires are out there?" "Without me, you'd still be eating instant ramen, living off food stamps, and letting everyone in the lab walk all over you. You're only standing here, looking like a decent human being and yelling at me, because you latched onto my family's wealth." My words pierced right through his fragile ego. His face flushed bright red with fury as he pointed a finger at me. "Fine! Since you want to put it that way, I don't need a single dime of your money. Just wait. My research is about to be published." "When that happens, investors will be lining up to throw money at a genius like me!" Julian slammed the door as he left, nearly colliding with my assistant who was walking in. My assistant ignored him and hurried over, handing me a tablet with excitement. "Ms. Vance, look at the headlines!" "Ethan Cross just published his breakthrough. It’s causing a massive stir in the scientific community!" "He scheduled his press conference right in the lobby of Vance Enterprises. He wants to invite you, his sole investor, to join him on stage. He’s already in the VIP lounge." While the media was gathering downstairs, Julian had just arrived back at his lab. All along the way, his colleagues looked at him with pity, contempt, and even amusement. Just as he was about to grab someone to demand an explanation, his new assistant ran up to him, pale as a ghost. "Dr. Reed! This is bad!" "Ethan Cross just published our research!" Julian gasped in denial. "Impossible!" "He's a nobody! Where would he get the funding and equipment?!" The assistant frantically pulled up the livestream on his phone and shoved it in front of Julian's face. On screen, Ethan looked confident and radiant as his voice filled the room: "Through this research, I want to give a special thanks to my sole investor, the woman who provided all the funding and top-tier equipment..." "The Managing Director of Vance Enterprises, Ms. Harper Vance." Fifth Chapter